BTC
+0.56%
74,248.00
USD
▲
MXN ≈ 1,313,735
cnbc.com
Microsoft shakes up Copilot AI leadership team, freeing up Suleyman to build new models
Microsoft is doubling down on its superintelligence group to build models, while consolidating engineering efforts for its Copilot assistants.
theguardian.com
Rachel Reeves pushing ‘generational opportunity’ for fiscal devolution to English regions, and admits student loan system is ‘broken’ – business live
Chancellor says Brexit may have cost 8% of UK GDP in wide-ranging Mais lecture at Bayes Business School in LondonThe number of people in England and Wales falling into insolvency has jumped.There were 11,609 individual insolvencies registered in England and Wales in February, the Insolvency Service has reported this morning. This was 18% higher than in February 2025 and 6% higher than in January 2026.The individual insolvencies consisted of 768 bankruptcies, 4,210 debt relief orders (DROs) and 6,631 individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs). The number of DROs in February 2026 was a record high in the monthly time series going back to their introduction in 2009, exceeding the previous high of 4,185 in August 2025.The number of IVAs was higher than both January 2026 and the 2025 monthly average. Bankruptcies were 25% higher than in February 2025, although numbers were affected by the clearing of a backlog following the Insolvency Service moving to a new case management system.Average 2-year fix has risen from 4.83% at the start of March to 5.28% today. It’s highest since April 2025.Average 5-year fix has risen from 4.95% at the start of March to 5.32% today. It’s highest since February 2025.“War in the Middle East has added almost £800 to a typical annual mortgage bill in just two weeks, which will be unwelcome news for anyone currently seeking a fixed rate deal.“The average two-year fixed rate has jumped from 4.83% at the start of March to 5.28% today – its highest level since April 2025. The average five-year fix has risen from 4.95% to 5.32%, now at its highest since February 2025. For a borrower with a £250,000 mortgage over 25 years, that equates to paying £788 more per year on a two-year fix, or £651 more on a five-year deal compared to just a fortnight ago. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. counterterrorism director Joe Kent resigns over war: 'Iran posed no imminent threat'
"Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation," Kent wrote in his letter to President Donald Trump.
cnbc.com
Oil prices top $102 as U.S. allies reluctant to escort tankers in Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices pared gains on Tuesday as uncertainty lingered over a U.S.-led coalition to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
bbc.com
Mayors to gain more spending power under Reeves tax plans
The Chancellor has set out the government's plan for economic growth, which also includes closer ties to the EU.
theguardian.com
Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith buys 27% stake in the Economist
Weekly news magazine’s parent company makes third significant ownership shake-up in its 183-year historyBusiness live – latest updatesThe Canadian billionaire Stephen Smith has bought a stake in the parent company of the Economist, held by Lynn Forester de Rothschild, in only the third significant ownership structure shake-up in its 183-year history.Smith and his family holding company, Smith Financial Corp, which owns financial businesses, including a co-ownership of the influential proxy advisory group Glass Lewis, has acquired a 26.9% stake in the Economist Group (TEG) for an undisclosed sum. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘It’s going to upset the balance’: how will Paramount buying Warner Bros change Hollywood?
Warner Bros might have swept the Oscars with Sinners and One Battle After Another, but the impending merger has those in the industry worried about the futureOn Sunday, Warner Bros snared 11 Oscars for One Battle After Another, Sinners and Weapons, equalling the record for most wins for a single film studio. Paramount, by contrast, did not earn a single nomination.Yet in an apparent case of a minnow swallowing a whale, Paramount is poised to gobble up Warner Bros in a deal worth $111bn. If approved by regulators, the two studios would be consolidated into one, redrawing the Hollywood map and sowing uncertainty for actors, directors and writers as well as millions of viewers. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Bentley to cut hundreds of UK jobs amid ‘challenging global market environment’
Carmaker reduces office-based roles and will not fill vacancies ‘to ensure long-term competitiveness of business’Bentley is to cut 275 jobs in the UK as the carmaker faces a “challenging global market environment”.The luxury brand, owned by Germany’s Volkswagen, is preparing to launch its first all-electric model but acknowledged it had some work to do to persuade consumers to switch away from internal combustion engine vehicles. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Iran targets UAE energy infrastructure as gas field set ablaze, tanker struck near Strait of Hormuz
Oil prices advanced on Tuesday as energy market participants monitored Middle East supply disruptions.
cnbc.com
European markets need to get their act together, CEO of Norway’s $2 trillion wealth fund says. ‘The winner takes it all’
Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, warned Europe is facing a crisis and that “it is time to act.”
cnbc.com
Treasury yields edge lower as investors weigh rising oil price, Iran attacks and looming Fed decision
Treasury yields edged lower as investors weighed mounting tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices ahead of the Federal Reserve's policy decision.
cnbc.com
Asia-Pacific markets close mixed as oil gains and Iran war keeps investors on edge
International benchmark Brent crude gained 2.45% to $102.57 per barrel, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 2.51% to $95.85 per barrel as of 8:44 p.m. ET.
cnbc.com
UAE reopens airspace after brief shutdown as Iran attacks keep region on edge
The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority said it had temporarily closed the country's airspace as a precautionary step.
cnbc.com
Australia central bank hikes rates to a near 1-year high as Iran war raises inflation risks
The 25 basis points hike was in line with expectations from analysts polled by Reuters
theguardian.com
Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav in line for $700m payout from Paramount deal
One of the best-paid executives in Hollywood has already made $113m after selling shares in WBD this monthBusiness live – latest updatesDavid Zaslav, the chief executive of Warner Bros Discovery, is in line for a $700m (£525m) payday from the $110bn sale of the Hollywood studio to Paramount Skydance.Zaslav could receive $34.2m in cash severance payments, $115.8m in vested stock and $517.2m in unvested share awards once the deal is complete, according to a filing from Warner Bros Discovery on Monday. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Easter holidaymakers switching from Dubai to Spain as flights fill up
It comes after the war in Iran caused mass disruption to flights across the Middle East and UAE.
theguardian.com
New mortgages up by £800 a year amid ‘Trumpflation’ from Iran war
Nearly 700 deals pulled in two weeks and only a few fixed-rate products below 4% are available, says MoneyfactsBusiness live – latest updatesBritons taking out a new home loan face paying almost £800 a year more on average than before the Iran war as “Trumpflation” pushes up UK mortgage rates, according to Moneyfacts.Nearly 700 mortgage deals have been pulled by lenders as the economic fallout from the war results in the biggest upheaval since the aftermath of Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget in 2022. Continue reading...
bbc.com
More than 200 jobs at risk at carmaker Bentley
The news comes as financial results for 2025 show a seventh consecutive year of profitability.
theguardian.com
Saving the pint: behind the race to climate-proof beer in the US
Water shortages and rising heat is putting pressure on beer ingredients, but US brewers and farmers are adaptingWith St Patrick’s Day this week, millions of Americans are raising a glass. Beer remains the country’s most popular alcoholic drink with more than 6bn gallons consumed each year. But from water shortages to rising temperatures, the climate crisis is putting pressure on beer’s most essential ingredients.At Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, beer is either stacked high in warehouse rows or racing down a canning line and assembled into 12-packs. Inside the cavernous cellars, enormous 6,000-gallon tanks hold the latest batches in progress. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Close Brothers banking group to cut 600 jobs and roll out AI ‘at pace’
Specialist lender’s shares plunge after short seller claims it will have to raise provision for car finance scandalBusiness live – latest updatesThe UK banking group Close Brothers is to cut about 600 jobs and roll out the use of AI “at pace” after posting further losses amid a mounting compensation bill for the UK motor finance scandal.The specialist lender said the cuts – almost a quarter of its 2,600-strong workforce – would be made over the next 18 months across its teams in the UK and Ireland. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Electricity costs set to rise in Alderney
Electricity costs will rise in Alderney to help ensure the long-term stability of the energy supply.
bbc.com
Typical new mortgage costs soar £788 a year in two weeks
Lenders have hiked rates on new deals and withdrawn products as war creates uncertainty in the markets.
bbc.com
Free energy packs 'to reduce bills by up to £800'
Citizens Advice is offering the packs and advice to residents in Beverley, Bridlington and Goole.
bbc.com
Sinn Féin shirking responsibilities on oil bills, says Lyons
The communities minister was giving his reaction to the £17m support package announced by the UK government.
bbc.com
Trump seeks to delay meeting with Xi in China
The escalating war in Iran has overshadowed many of the US' foreign policy objectives
theguardian.com
UK energy: about 14m households getting ‘below-average’ service
Ecotricity ranked top in Citizens Advice survey, followed by Outfox, Octopus and Co-operativeBusiness live – latest updatesApproximately 14 million households in the UK are receiving “below average” customer service from their energy supplier, a consumer group has warned.Citizens Advice said energy suppliers must improve their service, as its survey of 16 companies showed that half of gas and electricity consumers are with suppliers scoring less than three out of five stars for their customer service. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Alibaba launches agentic AI tool for businesses with Slack, Teams integration plans
Alibaba unveiled a new enterprise artificial intelligence tool on Tuesday amid a series of other developments in the company's AI space.
bbc.com
Another former sub postmaster dies awaiting payout
Tributes are paid to Parmod Kalia who ran a branch in Orpington, who has died aged 67.
cnbc.com
Amazon rolls out 1-hour, 3-hour delivery as ultrafast shipping trend grows in the U.S.
Amazon is speeding up deliveries even further after investing significant money and resources to make same-day shipping the standard.
theguardian.com
Could a stressed-out AI model help us win the battle against big tech? Let me ask Claude | Coco Khan
By considering consciousness a possibility, Anthropic is raising a fascinating proposition – that chatbots could rise up against their own algorithmsI am, in the way of my country, an over-apologiser. Colleague who ignored my email, woman who stepped on my foot, chair I tripped over: all will receive a fulsome apology for the terrible embarrassment of my being alive and bringing attention to it.All of which is my way of pre-emptively asking forgiveness when I admit that I extend these niceties to AI chatbots. “Good morning, Claude, thanks for your suggestions yesterday, they were great. Shall we work up some more?” I might say. (“I’d be delighted to,” returns Claude.) It was unintentional formality at first and then became deliberate, as I didn’t want to get into the habit of speaking rudely in case that leaked into behaviour with humans (cue dystopian visions of someone shouting “WRONG, DO IT AGAIN” to a cowering staff member over a doughnut-shop mix-up). Manners, after all, are muscles that need exercising.Coco Khan is a freelance writer and co-host of the politics podcast Pod Save the UK Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Senators tell ByteDance to 'immediately shut down' Seedance AI video app
Lawmakers say the new version of the Seedance AI video-generation app violates copyright and intellectual property laws.
theguardian.com
Oil and gas prices resume rise after Iran attacks production facilities
Brent crude price climbs as operations suspended at Shah gasfield in UAE after Iranian strikeBusiness live – latest updatesMiddle East crisis – live updatesOil and gas prices have risen again after Iran carried out attacks on production facilities for the first time since the start of the war with the US and Israel.Brent crude, the international benchmark oil price, climbed 3% to $103.2 (£77.52) a barrel on Tuesday and was up nearly 50% from levels before the war began on 28 February. Wholesale gas prices rose nearly 3% to €52 (£45) a megawatt hour, compared with about €30 before the war. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Trump 'not happy' with UK response to Iran conflict
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer said the UK was working with allies on a plan to protect the Strait of Hormuz.
bbc.com
Car park firm NCP collapses with nearly 700 jobs at risk
The car park operator says demand for parking has not recovered to pre-Covid levels, as its administrators look to sell the business.
theguardian.com
‘If we have to change tack, we will’: RBA hikes rates but not aiming to put Australia into recession, Bullock says
Reserve Bank of Australia’s second consecutive increase lifts cash rate target to 4.1%, back to where it was in February last yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Reserve Bank has increased interest rates and left the door open to further hikes, warning inflation will stay higher for longer amid war in Iran and soaring petrol prices.The hike followed a move in February and lifted the RBA’s cash rate target to 4.1%, back to where it was in February 2025, wiping out the relief offered by two cuts last year. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Thames Water is billing me for its own mistake
I was suddenly presented with a nearly £2,000 bill backdated to 2020 when it had mistakenly stopped collecting my direct debitsThames Water has blindsided me with a bill for nearly £2,000, backdated to 2020. It turns out that it mistakenly stopped collecting my direct debits back then and has not sent any bills since.It admitted its error and promised to write off charges older than 12 months, but now it is trying to recover almost the full amount. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Young people want to work: now there may be jobs for them | Polly Toynbee
I spent a week at a London jobcentre. Those I met were smart and eager to work – and now they have a government willing to help themLabour did it before. Can it do it again, with things being so much harder now? New Labour’s new deal for the young unemployed levered large numbers of people into work, but in 1998 the economy was on the upswing. Now, economic stagnation has resulted in falling vacancies and rising unemployment. And Donald Trump’s war threatens much worse in the future. Today the Department for Work and Pensions secretary, Pat McFadden, promises “life-changing opportunities to young people” to “significantly reverse the increase we inherited in those not in education, employment or training”, now numbering nearly a million.A major boost will be the greatly extended youth jobs guarantee, offering six-month-long subsidised-wage roles for unemployed 18- to 24-year-olds. And a youth jobs grant will offer employers a £3,000 subsidy to hire young people who are on benefits and have been out of work for six months. It mirrors the Future Jobs Fund that Labour brought in, after the financial crash, in 2009 – one of its most successful programmes, which boosted participants’ chance of employment by 27%, with a net gain per participant of £7,750 in increased wages and tax receipts and reduced benefit payments. (David Cameron scrapped it in 2010 without waiting to see those results.)Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnistGuardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?On Thursday 30 April, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK – and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader. Book tickets here or at guardian.live Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Risk-off trade back on for oil
Oil prices push higher as markets seem unconvinced of Trump's plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
theguardian.com
‘Very damaging’: how the Iran war is hitting energy-intensive industries
Conflict pushes companies struggling with rising costs in sectors such as steel and chemicals to the edgeIn its 160-year history, Somers Forge’s furnaces in the Black Country have cast steel columns for the Bank of England, part of the anchor for the Titanic and – more recently – propeller shafts for Britain’s nuclear submarines.The economic fallout from the Iran conflict is the latest of many geopolitical headaches the family-owned forge has endured, but it is already “very damaging”, said Tammy Inglis, the Somers finance director. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Michele Bullock says higher petrol prices 'not the reason' for RBA rate hike – video
The Reserve Bank rate hike takes the cash rate target from 3.85% to 4.1%, back to where it was in February 2025, wiping out the relief offered by two cuts last year. 'Higher petrol prices will add to inflation but they’re not the reason for today’s decision. If the Middle East conflicts get worse or are not resolved soon, higher fuel costs will push inflation here even higher,' RBA governor Michele Bullock said.RBA interest rates: Reserve Bank raises official cash rate to 4.1% in blow to mortgage holders Continue reading...
cnbc.com
'Significant, but not catastrophic': A fall in Chinese visitors barely dents tourism numbers to Japan
Experts stress that Japan’s tourism portfolio is now more diversified and resilient, with Western markets also contributing strongly.
theguardian.com
Revealed: the world’s worst mega-leaks of methane driving global heating
Exclusive: Fixing a leak can be simple and equivalent to closing a coal power station, making lack of action maddening, say analystsThe world’s worst mega-leaks of the potent greenhouse gas methane in 2025 have been revealed by an analysis of satellite data.The super-polluting plumes from oil and gas facilities have a colossal heating impact on the climate but often result from poor maintenance and can be simple to fix. The assessment found dozens of mega-leaks, each having the same global heating impact as a coal-fired power station. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘National disgrace’: pothole repair backlog hits record £18.6bn in England and Wales
Only half the road network is in good condition despite 1.9m repairs last year, says industry bodyA losing battle with potholes has now seen the backlog of repairs across England and Wales reach a record £18.6bn, according to an annual industry estimate, despite councils filling in about 1.9m holes last year.The “national disgrace” of dangerously pockmarked local roads has been exacerbated by a notably wet winter, with only half of the network now reported to be in good condition. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
What was Doge? How Elon Musk tried to gamify government
Steeped in gaming and rightwing culture wars, Musk and his team of teenage coders set out to defeat the enemy of the United States: its peopleIn 2025, when Elon Musk joined the government as the de facto head of something called the “department of government efficiency”, he declared that governments were poorly configured “big dumb machines”. To the senator Ted Cruz, he explained that “the only way to reconcile the databases and get rid of waste and fraud is to actually look at the computers”.Muskism came to Washington soaked in memes, adolescent boasts and sadistic victory dances over mass firings. Leading a team of teenage coders and mid-level managers drawn from his suite of companies, Musk aimed to enter the codebase and rewrite regulations and budget lines from within. He would drag the paper-pushing bureaucracy kicking and screaming into the digital 21st century, scanning the contents of cavernous rooms of filing cabinets and feeding the data into a single interoperable system. The undertaking combined features of private equity-led restructuring with startup management, shot through with the sensibility of gaming and rightwing culture war. To succeed, he would need “God mode”, an overview of the whole. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Ant Group unit clears regulatory step for Bright Smart takeover, sending shares up 70%
Shares of Bright Smart Securities surged 58% after an Ant Group unit completed the required steps to acquire Hong Kong listed brokerage Bright Smart Securities.
theguardian.com
Will the strait of Hormuz torpedo Trump’s war? – podcast
Events in the narrow waterway are causing chaos around the globe. Jillian Ambrose explains whyThe strait of Hormuz, a narrow stretch of water at the mouth of the Gulf, is the world’s petrol pump, a geographical bottleneck through which 20% of the world’s oil normally flows.Since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran, however, Tehran has threatened to close the strait and cause mayhem. “They’ve not formally, officially shut it down, but they have said that they will set ablaze any tanker that tries to move through. For any shipping owner, for any insurer, that is as good as closed,” explains the Guardian’s energy correspondent, Jillian Ambrose. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
CNBC Daily Open: Trump seeks support on Hormuz as he sets sights on Cuba
U.S. President Donald Trump's appeals that allies help the U.S. secure the Strait of Hormuz seem to have received a less than enthusiastic response.
theguardian.com
Cheese from largest US raw milk distributor linked to E coli outbreak
Cheddar cheese from California-based Raw Farm identified as ‘likely source’ of infections across multiple statesCheese from the country’s largest raw milk distributor has been linked to a multistate E coli outbreak.Raw cheddar cheese from the California-based company Raw Farm has been identified as the “likely source” of several E coli O157:H7 infections in California, Florida and Texas, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), PBS News reported, though no Raw Farm products have tested positive for E coli. Continue reading...
bbc.com
AI firm Anthropic seeks weapons expert to stop users from 'misuse'
The artificial intelligence firm says it wants to prevent "catastrophic misuse" of its systems.
theguardian.com
Train delays: compensation claims to be easier under Great British Railways
Refund systems for individual train operators to be merged into single service under nationalised rail bodyRail passengers will be able to claim compensation for delayed trains directly from the website where they bought their ticket, the government has said, as part of a shake-up to make rail travel simpler.Passengers who use third-party retailers such as Trainline to buy tickets currently, have to submit applications for refunds to the relevant train operator for processing. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Is it possible to build a plastic-free home?
Using plastic in construction is cheap and easy, but some are trying to radically cut back its use.
bbc.com
Train Delay Repay rule changes to make claims easier
There will also be additional checks on railcards during a trial to crack down on fraud.
cnbc.com
Trump’s warning over Kharg Island raises the stakes for Iran’s oil exports
Trump's decision to order strikes on Kharg Island has pushed one of the world's most critical oil hubs into the center of the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict.
cnbc.com
CNBC's The China Connection newsletter: Volkswagen pushes into driver-assist EVs without Nvidia, exec says
Volkswagen Group China's Chief Technology Officer Thomas Ulbrich spoke exclusively about the company's chip plans.
cnbc.com
Trump says U.S. asked China to delay Xi meeting 'a month or so' due to Iran war
The Iran war wasn't expected to derail the Trump-Xi meeting in China, but analysts said it would influence the talks and any agreements that come out of them.
cnbc.com
Nvidia adds Hyundai, BYD and other automakers to self-driving tech business
AVs are important to Nvidia as self-driving cars remain one of the primary areas where the company can show growth outside of artificial intelligence.
cnbc.com
Apple acquires video editing company MotionVFX to boost subscribers
Apple is buying MotionVFX in part to help the iPhone maker attract more subscribers to its creator tools.
bbc.com
Starmer announces £53m support to help with heating oil costs
The money will be for "vulnerable" households who have faced a sharp rise in energy bills since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
bbc.com
Teens sue Musk's xAI over Grok's pornographic images of them
Musk's AI chatbot has created millions of fake sexualised images, experts say.
cnbc.com
Nvidia GTC 2026: CEO Jensen Huang sees $1 trillion in orders for Blackwell and Vera Rubin through '27
At Nvidia's annual developer conference, CEO Jensen Huang said the company is seeing booming demand for its latest technology.
cnbc.com
Nvidia announces Vera Rubin Space-1 chip system for orbital AI data centers
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said space computing "has arrived" at the GTC 2026 conference.
cnbc.com
Trump signals coalition to force open Strait of Hormuz is not ready yet: 'Some are less than enthusiastic'
President Donald Trump said Monday that some U.S. allies are not willing to join a coalition to protect tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
theguardian.com
Thames Water rescue deal talks rumble on interminably but its future remains unclear | Nils Pratley
As negotiations enter a ninth month, an outcome is thought to be weeks away and the devil is still in the detailIt is two years since the shareholders of Thames Water threw in the towel, declared the company “uninvestible” and accepted their shares were worthless. Yet the water torture goes on and on. We are now in the ninth month of negotiations between Thames’s senior creditors and the regulator, Ofwat, on a rescue deal – and still an outcome is thought to be weeks away.Monday’s updated sketch of the proposal contained a few new details. The amount of fresh equity that would be injected into Thames has increased from £3.15bn to £3.35bn. The day-one debt facility has been boosted by a billion pounds to £3.25bn. Ofwat also appears to have insisted creditors underwrite a further £3.3bn debt facility in case Thames, circa 2028, can’t raise borrowings from the market on commercial terms by then; that precaution is probably wise. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on SUVs: London’s mayor is right to push back on supersize cars | Editorial
Huge vehicles are popular with drivers, but their wider impacts on road safety and the environment must be tackledNo one who walks, cycles or drives around London, or many of the world’s big cities, could fail to notice the vastly increased size of the typical car. A type of vehicle once associated with rural settings and outdoor lifestyles is now ubiquitous. Heavily marketed as sports utility vehicles (SUVs), supersize cars are among the key consumer trends of recent decades. In 2022, they accounted for 46% of global new car sales.For manufacturers, these vehicles are big earners due to higher profit margins. For those inside them, they offer more space and a higher vantage point. But for those on the outside, SUVs have obvious downsides. The threat that they pose to pedestrians is one. Research shows that children are 77% more likely to die if struck by an SUV compared with other cars, due to their size and structure – particularly their raised bonnets. This finding was highlighted in an announcement from the London mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, that such risks are being scrutinised as part of a wider review into SUVs’ environmental impact. This evidence will provide the basis for policy proposals that are expected to include higher charges for owners.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump’s war is bringing economic calamity to the UK – and another shock to our politics | Gaby Hinsliff
Hard choices lie ahead for Downing Street if higher fuel prices spark resentment and trigger a renewed cost of living crisisSeventy years ago this winter, the streets of Britain fell eerily quiet. After one last panic buying spree, many garages shut, and traffic even in the heart of London dwindled away. The formal introduction of petrol rationing had begun, limiting drivers to 200 miles’ worth a month – with exceptions for farmers, doctors and vicars – after the Suez crisis blocked fuel supplies from the Gulf.Ancient history now, of course – or it would be if it weren’t for what looks increasingly like the US’s own version of Suez: a great power starting a war it seemingly doesn’t know how to finish, against an enemy it woefully underestimated. If the strait of Hormuz – the vital shipping lane now rendered unsafe for shipping by Iranian drones and mines – cannot soon be reopened, then Britain could be only weeks away from needing to ration fuel, the former BP executive (and government adviser) Nick Butler warned on Monday morning. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Car park firm NCP falls into administration, putting nearly 700 jobs at risk
PwC called in as administrators after company runs out of cash, leaving it unable to pay landlords and creditorsNational Car Parks, the UK’s biggest car park operator, has fallen into administration, putting nearly 700 jobs at risk.NCP’s board of directors called in PwC as administrators after it ran out of cash, leaving it unable to pay its landlords and creditors, with significant rent payments due at the end of March. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Bank of America settles over Epstein claims
The lawsuit had accused the bank of facilitating Epstein's sex trafficking.
theguardian.com
Iran’s Hormuz blockade is its most powerful card against Trump and Israel. It won’t back down easily | Jack Watling
By imposing massive costs on the global economy, the Iranian government hopes to cause the US to back downThe US and Israeli decision to attack Iran has sent economic shockwaves around the world. About 20% of global oil supplies have been effectively blocked from transiting the strait of Hormuz since Iran began attacking ships, resulting in a huge jump in oil prices. Militarily, while the United States has the firepower to significantly reduce Iran’s capacity to strike ships in the strait, it is unlikely to be able to eliminate the threat entirely.Reopening the strait, therefore, is not only a question of military capabilities but of diplomacy, and to negotiate it is necessary to understand what each party to the conflict is trying to achieve. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
U.S. is allowing Iranian oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz, says Bessent
The White House believes tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will increase before Navy escorts are deployed, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
bbc.com
How the Iran war may affect your money and bills
The conflict in the Middle East could raise the cost of petrol, household energy bills and even food.
cnbc.com
Oil’s war-driven volatility pulls in record retail money, fueling 'meme-style' trading
Net retail buying of oil ETFs hit a record $211 million on March 12, surpassing the previous peak seen during the market turmoil in May 2020, according to Vanda Research.
bbc.com
Companies offered £3,000 to hire jobless under-24s
It comes as ministers grapple with spiralling unemployment rates among young people.
bbc.com
Iran hits key UAE oil port and Dubai airport
The port of Fujairah plays a crucial role in helping keep global supplies moving when the Strait of Hormuz is blocked.
theguardian.com
‘Like a DVD in the present tense’: are we ready for film distribution via USB drives?
As big tech continues to dominate the film industry, Video StoreAge is a uniquely crafted company that works with film-makers to sell independent films on USB drivesThe streaming-skeptical cinephile faces a dilemma in 2026, especially when it comes to watching movies at home. Increasingly, movies are available via rentals that funnel money to mega-corporations including Amazon or Apple; digital “purchases” from those same companies that can actually be revoked at any moment; or, most enticingly but still somewhat inconveniently, well-curated physical media special editions that treat films with the respect they deserve (sometimes even respect they don’t, depending on the title) while taking up a lot of shelf space and hitting your wallet hard. Plus, as vinyl aficionados know, bespoke physical media can also be severely limited in terms of where you can actually play it. Basically, almost everyone in the home-video space is trying to either be Amazon or the Criterion Collection.Ash Cook, the former Sundance programmer who founded the new distributor Video StoreAge (pronounced like “storage”), is trying to figure out a third way. He described Video StoreAge’s products – indie movies sold on USB drives – as “like a DVD in the present tense. It’s a way to have a physical copy of a movie, but in this case you can play it on your computer. It has digital utility.” Like almost anything else these days, Video StoreAge is available as a subscription, with quarterly collections of five features and five shorts. The first drop includes Vera Drew’s buzzed-about The People’s Joker, a homemade superhero comedy that reappropriates many elements of the Batman mythos into a trans coming-out story. (Honestly, it’s more fun than those Joaquin Phoenix movies and might understand the Joker character better, too.) But they also sell single films, including Drew’s, or any combinations of available films as a sort of digital indie-movie mix tape on those format-flexible USB drives. (The quarter’s shorts package is included with every movie regardless, an automatic special feature.) Continue reading...
bbc.com
Alcohol-free beer and pet grooming used to measure inflation
Houmous and motorhomes are also added to the basket of goods and services used to chart the rising cost of living.
theguardian.com
‘Another internet is possible’: Norway rails against ‘enshittification’
Absurdist video urges policymakers and users to resist deliberate deterioration of platforms and devicesThe video’s opening shot shows a man hiding under a bed snipping in a hole in someone’s sock. Seconds later, the same man uses a saw to shorten a table leg so that it wobbles during breakfast. “My job is to make things shitty,” the man explains. “The official title is enshittificator. What I do is I take things that are perfectly fine and I make them worse.”The video, released recently by the Norwegian Consumer Council, is an absurdist take on a serious issue; it is part of a wider, global campaign aimed at fighting back against the “enshittification”, or gradual deterioration, of digital products and services. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Big Tech purchases of carbon credits explode amid AI race, with Microsoft leading the way
Carbon credit purchases by Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft skyrocketed in 2023, based on tracked purchases.
cnbc.com
Op-ed: Why my interview with Russia's ambassador to the U.K. reflected a stark global picture
While Andrey Kelin was a gracious host, I realized I'd heard his answers to my questions many times before.
theguardian.com
Virgin Holidays rep told me to pay for hotel after Iran war forced flight cancellation
We were stranded as flights were cancelled, but the travel company didn’t seem aware of our rightsWe are holidaymakers stranded in Mauritius by the conflict in the Gulf. Our return flight, booked as part of a Virgin Holidays package, was routed via Dubai and was cancelled.We were advised by Virgin’s local representative that we should arrange and pay for accommodation ourselves until flights resumed, and reclaim it on our travel insurance. Only after we challenged this position did Virgin agree to cover hotel costs. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Steelworks costing £1.3m a day to run
The government spent £377m to keep British Steel's Scunthorpe site operating, according to a report.
theguardian.com
High levels of debt on essential UK bills are the ‘new normal’, warn campaigners
Average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax for low-income households all rose last yearHigh levels of debt on essential bills have become the “new normal” for many low-income households, the charity StepChange said on Monday, with average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax all going up last year.People’s budgets have been stretched in recent years as they have faced higher prices for many goods and services, and the crisis in the Middle East has led to concerns over a new wave of increases. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Ukraine's urgent fight on the financial frontline
The war-torn country is battling to secure crucial funding from the IMF and EU, as well as putting up taxes.
theguardian.com
UK housing costs rise 41% over five years for renters and owners, study shows
Borrowers coming off fixed deals hit hard as Savills says big spike in interest payments made up half the overall rise UK households spent a record £226bn to keep a roof over their heads last year, figures showed on Monday, with mortgage borrowers finishing fixed-rate deals particularly hard hit by rising payments.Overall housing costs have gone up by £66bn over the past five years, a rise of 41%, the property group Savills said. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Starmer speaks to Trump about importance of reopening Strait of Hormuz
The leaders discussed the need to "end the disruption to global shipping", No 10 says.
cnbc.com
Bank stocks have been crushed this year. 2 of our names should weather the storm
The businesses of Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo should be largely insulated from the three major headwinds facing the industry.
theguardian.com
Beyond the strait: why attacks on Kharg Island could keep oil prices high
Oil could pass 2008 record of $147.50 a barrel as damage and field closures risk compounding supply shock caused by Iran warAbout 20 miles off the coast of Iran lies the source of the petrostate’s economic lifeblood and the latest target of US military aggression: an 8 sq mile coral island through which nine in every 10 barrels of Iranian crude passes each day.The US president’s decision to launch a weekend attack on Kharg Island, the home of Iran’s processing hub and the heart of its economy, is an unsurprising counterstrike to the Iranian regime’s ongoing chokehold on the oil market’s trade artery. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Florida’s real estate ‘gold rush’ draws the super-rich as rising costs push others out
The luxury property surge fuels growth in Miami, but a poll finds many residents weighing an exit over housing and living costsTo a casual observer, everything in south Florida’s real estate garden is looking rosy. There’s a “gold rush” in Miami as ultra-wealthy buyers snap up mega-mansions and luxuriously appointed condos as soon as they hit the market; and the Guardian has also reported recently on the “Mamdani effect” of elite New Yorkers arriving in the sunshine state with bulging pocketbooks in search of a high-priced escape from the city’s new mayor.Yet alongside the boom, there are rumblings of a more troubling parallel reality. Undoubtedly, the billionaire class is helping to pump even more dollars into an already thriving Florida economy. But as prices rise and the less affluent find everything from housing and insurance to gas and groceries increasingly expensive, many are considering doing something about it. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘Cruel hoax’ or ‘work-life balance nirvana’: whatever happened to the four-day work week?
It has been years since the four-day work week was floated as a solution to everything from traffic congestion to burnout. So why aren’t we all doing it now?Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailDuring the global soul-searching that followed the rupture of Covid-19 lockdowns, one idea for how we might live better suddenly seemed plausible: the four-day work week.The model is simple but somewhat counterintuitive. Employees work fewer hours for the same salary while getting the same amount of (or even more) work done. Advocates say this is made possible by reducing meeting times, streamlining workflows and prioritising work more efficiently.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...
bbc.com
We will intervene on energy bills if necessary, says Miliband
Oil and gas prices have surged due to the US-Israel war in Iran, with fears over the cost of living.
theguardian.com
Relief for some of Britain’s poorest lands at right moment to cushion Iran aftershocks | Heather Stewart
Timely end of two-child limit plus a healthy uptick in universal credit signals ‘life-changing’ boost to Britons most exposed to TrumpflationIt doesn’t involve warships, drones or strategic oil stocks, but one of Labour’s most potent weapons for containing the economic aftershocks from the Iran war for the UK is about to be unleashed: the scrapping of the two-child limit.If the cost of essential goods spikes as a result of high oil prices it is the poorest households who will be the most exposed. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
America needs a movement to curb billionaires' power | Steven Greenhouse
The country’s 900 billionaires have far too much influence over our government and economy. Here’s how we can reduce the power of the ultra-richNot a day goes by without some news about billionaires throwing their weight around to bend the system in their favor or about politicians giving them tax cuts, government contracts or pardons. In today’s new Gilded Age, the 900-plus billionaires in the US have far too much influence over our elections, our economy, our government policies and our news media, and it’s urgent for Americans to create a movement to curb their power in order to preserve what’s left of our democracy and assure we have an economy with some basic fairness.It’s deeply troubling that billionaires have far more power in shaping our nation’s politics and policies than do average Americans, whether they’re auto workers, teachers, nurses, carpenters or supermarket cashiers. What’s more, it’s deeply disturbing that so many billionaires support the most authoritarian president in US history, whether by donating to his campaign or his gilded ballroom.Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labour and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues Continue reading...
theguardian.com
‘The chef is a metre away from you’: the cosy allure of micro-restaurants
Tiny eateries such as the award-winning Gwen in Wales, which holds just eight customers, are spreading across the UKIt started with the portion sizes, as all-you-can-eat buffets were reduced to bite-size small plates. Then the menus started to decrease, with pages of dishes shrinking to an A5 sheet of paper.Now restaurants are undergoing another round of downsizing. Micro-restaurants, which usually seat fewer than 20 people, are gradually spreading across the UK. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Banknotes, beavers and a very British backlash
Politicians are furious Churchill will be replaced on banknotes. The RSPCA wants rats and pigeons to feature.
bbc.com
'Gruesome' war bets fuel calls for crackdown on prediction markets
Predictions markets have hosted millions of dollars of bets related to the war in Iran.
bbc.com
Trump urges UK and other nations to send warships to Strait of Hormuz
The US president says he hopes China, France, Japan and South Korea will also send ships to defend the key oil shipping route.
theguardian.com
‘Daylight robbery’: M1 drivers boggle at the rising price of fuel
Woodall services near Sheffield is now one of the UK’s most expensive pit stops, with petrol at 172.9p a litreMiddle East crisis – live updatesOpened in 1968, Woodall services on the M1 near Sheffield is Yorkshire’s oldest roadside service station. This weekend, it was also one of the country’s most expensive pit stops, with diesel priced at 185.9p a litre and petrol at 172.9p.“Do you really want to know what I think? You probably couldn’t print it,” said biker Alan Harrison, who had stopped for a coffee break in the sunshine while heading from Leeds to Bournemouth. Continue reading...
bbc.com
She spent 16 hours on Instagram in a day. It's up to a jury to decide if Meta is to blame
A landmark lawsuit will set the stage for thousands of people who say social media platforms are intentionally addictive.
bbc.com
We're not profiteering on fuel. But my staff still face abuse
Independent retailer Goran Raven says the higher oil price is "horrific" for him as well as his customers.
bbc.com
Judge says 'no evidence' to justify Federal Reserve probe
Jeanine Pirro said she would appeal the ruling, which blocks the subpoenas she issued to the central bank.
bbc.com
Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin?
The US said easing sanctions on Russian oil would provide only a limited financial boost to Putin.
bbc.com
Why both partners need to be across a couple's money
Martin Lewis explains why both partners in a relationship need to know what financial products they hold.
bbc.com
Dharshini David: Economy on shaky ground even before Iran war
The government's hopes that 2026 would be the year when growth picks up are at risk of being scuppered.
bbc.com
Can Ukraine's war-torn wheatfields be cleansed?
Researchers take 8,000 soil samples from battlefields to see if it is safe to grow crops.
bbc.com
Can plastic-eating fungi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
bbc.com
Why animals will replace historical figures on bank notes
British wildlife will replace historical figures on the next series of Bank of England banknote
bbc.co.uk
The Inquiry
How Poland’s economy became one of Europe’s fastest-growing success stories
bbc.com
A small US grocer is calling out the lower prices at big chains
It is 'impossible for us to compete', says the boss of a New York grocery store.
theguardian.com
How much worse could Iran war make the cost of living crisis? – The Latest
Rising oil prices and market turmoil as a result of the war in the Middle East are fuelling fears the cost of living crisis could get even tougher. Energy bills, mortgage rates and petrol prices could all surge in the fallout from the conflict. So how much could the war tighten the screws on our personal finances? Lucy Hough speaks to the deputy editor of the Guardian’s money section, Rupert Jones – watch on YouTubeHow will war in the Middle East affect your finances? Continue reading...
bbc.com
The Aldi-style disruptors who could be about to shake up the vets market
As pet owners complain of rising prices, independent practices want to take on the big chains.
bbc.com
GPS jamming: The invisible battle in the Middle East
GPS jamming has made navigation hazardous in the Gulf, spurring efforts to develop alternatives.
bbc.com
Spain's migrants welcome amnesty: 'It will help us in every way'
Madrid cites humanitarian and economic reasons to give undocumented workers legal status.
bbc.com
Can snacks help you sleep?
Chocolates, bars, gummies and drinks promise to help you sleep, but is the science behind them sound?
bbc.com
We have more privacy controls yet less privacy than ever
Has online privacy become "a luxury not a right" for us all in 2026?
bbc.com
Know when to fold them: the tech inspired by origami
Origami techniques can add strength to structures without adding bulk.
bbc.com
Deepfake attack: 'Many people could have been cheated'
The boss of the Bombay Stock Exchange was recently targeted in what is a growing global problem.
bbc.com
Why you can't get a signal at festivals and sports matches
Connecting up music and sports events to the internet is a massive undertaking.
bbc.com
The family-owned soda firm that still uses returnable glass bottles
Soft drinks company Twig's Beverage has a loyal following for its old-fashioned approach.
cnbc.com
Register now: Applications open for the World's Top Fintech Companies 2026
CNBC and Statista chart the top fintech players from around the world, ranging from startups to Big Tech names.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
bbc.com
Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
bbc.com
Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
bbc.com
Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
bbc.com
The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
💬 Comments